Water-motor.



H. J. SHAFFER.

WATER MOTOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 27, 1913.

1,087,1 90. Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

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H. J. SHAPFER.

WATER MOTOR.

APPLIOATIQN FILED MAY 27, 1913. 1,087,190, Patented Feb. 17, 1914.

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HOMER J. SHAFFER, OF COLUMBIA CITY, INDIANA.

WATER-MOTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1'7, 1914:.

Application filed May 27, 1913. Serial No. 770,229.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HOMERv J. SHAFFER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Columbia City, in the county of WVhitley and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful ater-Victor; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a new and useful water motor.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple and eflicient water motor comprising simple and practical features of construction, and designed to be disposed and anchored adjacent the bed of a running stream, so as to be actuated by the undertow.

One of the features of the invention is the provision of a sheet metal casing tapering from one end to the other, thereby providing a horizontal water channel or chute, there being endless chains running about sprockets traveling adjacent the longitudinal side walls of the casing and provided with paddles or wings, against which the water acts to impart motion to the chains and the shafts of the sprockets.

Another feature of the invention is the provision of gates hung upon two of thev shafts adjacent the mouth of the chute or casing, and provided with segment gears meshing with a pair of gears, in combination with means, adapted to be actuated from the shore of the stream, for operating the gates, for turning the under-tow into the channel, or deflecting the same therefrom.

In practical fields the details of construction may necessitate alterations, to which the patentee is entitled, provided the alterations fall within the scope of what is claimed.

The invention comprises further features and combination of parts, as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawings and claimed.

In the drawings:-Figure 1 is a plan view of the improved motor constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a sectional view, showing the endless chains and the paddles thereon. Fig. 3 is an end view. Fig. 4: is a detail perspective view of a portion of the motor, showing the gearing between one of the gates and the shore of the stream, whereby the power may be transmitted to the shore for running any suitable machinery, and whereby the gates may be manipulated, for cutting ofi the under-tow in its flow through the channel of the casing. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of one of the chains showing how the paddles are held in a horizontal position or transversely of the channel as they pass therethrough. I Referring more particularly to the drawmgs, 1 designates a casing open at each end, as shown at 2 and 3. This casing tapers from the mouth end 3 to the outlet end 2, thereby forming a slightly tapered water channel 4 in plan view, through which the under-tow of the stream is adapted to pass.

Mounted in suitable bearings of the casing adjacent the outlet end 2 is a pair of shafts 5, each of which is provided with sprocket wheels 6 and 7 Mounted in suitable bearings of the casing adjacent the mouth end thereof is a pair of shafts 8. Upon the lower end of each shaft 8 is a sprocket wheel 9, while upon the upper end of each shaft is a sprocket wheel 10. Traveling about the wheels 6 and 7 and 9 and 10 of each pair of shafts are sprocket chains 11, to which the paddles or members 12 are pivoted at 13. here the paddles 12 are pivoted the links are constructed with abutment lugs against which the paddles bear as they travel through the channel at of the casing, so as to hold them transversely of the channel, in order to receive the full force of the under-tow. Owing to the construction of the links of the chains, to which links the paddles are pivoted, the paddles assume such positions upon their return toward the mouth end 3, as to feather the water, thereby preventing retarding the chains and the shafts in their movements. Suspended pivotally upon the shafts 8 are the arms 14 of the gates 15, which, when the motor is in operation or rather furnishing power, are disposed in an open position as shown in Fig. 2, so as to guide the undertow into and through the channel 4: of the casing so as to act against the paddles.

In order to prevent drifts and the like from entering the channel 1, a substantially movement to the chains and thence to the shafts. The throats 17 may be restricted by adjusting the gates 15 toward one another, that is, upon the pivots. By disposing the gates so that the free ends thereof will meet, one end of one gate engaging a recess 34 of the other gate as shown in Fig. 1 in dotted lines, the under-tow will be prevented entirely from entering the throats 17 and especially the channel 4. In this manner the motor may be stopped. The gates 15 are constructed with segment gears 18 and 19. The segment gear 18 meshes with a pinion 20, while the segment gear 19 meshes with a pinion 21, which in turn meshes with the pinion 20. The pinions 20 and 21 are mounted upon the stub shafts 22 and 23, and upon the upper end of the shaft 22 (which is longer than the shaft 23) a beveled pinion 24. is mounted, which meshes with a similar beveled pinion 25 of the shaft'26, which is mounted in a bearing 27. This shaft 26 is designed to extend to the shore of the stream and mounted in suitable bearings, and adapted to be manipulated or rocked by any suitable means (not shown), for adjusting the gates 15 to different positions, through the arrangement of the segment gears 18 and 10, and pinions 20 and 21.

In order to transmit power from the motor to the shore, beveled gears 28 and 29 are mounted upon and rotatable with the extreme upper end of the shafts 8, which are longer than the shafts 5, and with which gears 28 and 29 the beveled pinions 30 and 31 of the shaft 32 mesh. This shaft 32 is mounted in suitable bearings 33 of the motor, and is designed to extend to the shore of the stream, so as to be geared or belted to any suitable machinery (not shown).

The invention having been set forth, what is claimed as new and useful is 1. In a current water motor, an open ended tapering casing having a tapering channel, a pair of shafts mounted in bearings at each end of the casing and provided with sprockets, sprocket chains operating about said sprockets and provided with paddles adapted to assume transverse positions as passing through the channel from the larger end of the casing toward the smaller end, gates suspended upon shafts of the larger end of the casing and provided with segment gears, and means cooperating with the segmental gears whereby the gate may be adjusted to dilferent positions.

2. In a current motor comprising a tapered casing having a month end at the larger portion and an outlet at the smaller portion, shafts including sprockets mounted in bearings of the casing adjacent the mouth and outlet end, chains passing about said sprockets, paddles pivoted at intervals to said chains with their free ends opposing one another when resisting the current, said casing having a channel, the space of said channel between the opposing ends of the paddles gradually tapering from the mouth end to the outlet end of the casing at which point the paddles substantially meet, and means for cutting oil the current passing through said channel.

3. In a current motor coi'nprising a lapered casing having a month end at the larger portion and an outlet at the smaller portion, shafts including sprockets mounted in bearings of the casing adjacent the mouth and outlet end, chains passing about said srn'ockets, paddles pivoted at intervals to said chains with their free ends opposing one another when resisting the current, said casing having a channel, the space of said channel between the opposing ends of the paddles gradually tapering from the mouth end to the outlet end of the casing at which point the paddles substantially meet, swinging gates mounted upon the shafts adjacent the mouth end of the casing and provided with segment gears, gears intermeshing and meshing with the segment gears, and means remote from the motor having connections with the intermeshing gears for adjusting the gates in different positions.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HOMER J. SHAFFER. lVitnesses E. K. STRONG, Gnn'rnnnn COOK.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. 0. 

